Robert henry armit



BEST AVAILABLE COPY (No Hedel.) l y. mnu-Annu,

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'naam' omg.' I 1 f Wahn/'an lm/dvr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ROBERT llEN RY ARMIT, OF LONDONENGLAND,,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS MCCULLOCH, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE-GUN.

sPEcmcA'rIoN forming pin-z of man Patent No. 446,807, dated February 17, 1on1.-

Application died Inch 18,1888. Serial 571.287,07?. (le model.) Patented in England November 25,1885,No. 14,483; in France February 2, 1886,10. 178,922; in Germlny February 2,1886, No. 88,8513 in Belgium February 9, 1886,12 71,907; in Italy February 9, 1886, and la Austria-Hungary lay 29, 1888.

To all whom t'may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HENRY Arum, retired lieutenant of Ilcr Majestys Navy and lately a captain and honorary major in IIer Majestys auxiliary forces, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, and a resident of London,England, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machine and other Guns, (for which I have obtained patents in the following countries: in Great Britain, No. 14,482, dated November 25, 1885; in France, No. 173,922, dated February 2, 1886; in Belgium, No. 71,907, dated February 9, 1886; in Germany, No. 36,351, dated February 2, 1886; in Austria-I-Iungary, dated May 29, 1886, and in Italy, dated February 9, 1886,) of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machine or battery guns and all quick-firing guns used with cartridges wherein the powder is inclosed or contained in wrapped or solid-drawn metallic cases or envelopes.

In the use of such guns it sometimes happens that during the operation of extracting an empty eartridgeshell the head or base of the said shell becomes detached from the cylindrical or tubular part thereof, leaving the latter in the chamber of the gun, or the cylindrical or tubular part of the said shell is broken or torn asunderand a portion thereof left in the said chamber. When an accident of this kind occurs to a machine orothergun as ordinarily constructed, the gun is rendered inoperative, for the reason that a fresh cartridge cannot be inserted into the chamber until the remaining portion of the empty cartridgeshcil is extracted andthe chamber thus cleared. Guns having two or more barrels are sometimes renderedinoprative by the obstruction of one of the said barrels in this manner. Moreover, ir. ractiee the fact that part of an empty cartri ge-shell has been thus left iu the chambcris usually not observed until an attempt is made to force another cartridge therein, thus crushing or compressing the remaining portion of the omgty shell and jamming the same tightly in t e chamber.

'lhe object ot' my invention is to provide an improved construction in that class of ma- 5o chine-guns designed to avoid this diiculty; and to this end it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section of part of a gun-barrel with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the said barrel. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the false chamber or bush- 6o ing detached. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a key for inserting the said chamber or bushing into the barrel and withdrawing it therefrom. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and Fig. 6 a rear elevation, showing a modified form of my false chamber or bushing. Fig. 7 is a side elevation, and Fig. 8 a rear elevation, of a key, hereinafter described.

-Like 'letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

A is the barrel.

B is a chamber or bushing of steel or other metal, which is preferably made more or less taper externally toward its front or inner end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to facilitate its 75 withdrawal from the barrel.

The chamber or bushing B (shown in Figs.

1 to 3) is provided with an intermittent screw b, and corresponding segmental screw-threads are formed at a in the barrel A. The said 8o chamber or bushing can therefore be readily inserted into the barrel, and can be firmly secured in position therein by turning it through a small angle, and thereby causing its screwthreads to engage with the internal screw- S5 threads of the barrel. The said chamber or bushing B is, as above stated, made of such internal form and dimensions that a cartridgeshell will iit therein.

To facilitate the insertion and withdrawal 9o of thesaid chamber or bushing, I form the same with slots or notches b', into which the key C, Fig. 4, can be introduced for the purpose of unscrewing or screwing' up the said chamber or bushing. I prefer, moreover, to 95 form recesses or cavities b2 at the inner ends of the said slots or notches b' and to make the said key with spring-arms C', provided with projections C, corresponding in shape and.

size with the recesses or cavities b. 4'When the key is inserted in the notches b', its arms C will be forced inward, and its projections 5 C2 will then enter the recesses or cavities b. so that I am enabled after nnscrewing the chamber or bushing B to withdraw the same from the barrel by means of the said key. One of the said notches b' permits the exxo tractorto engage with the iinngeof acartridge case in the barrel.

In the modification of my invention iliustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the false chamber or bushing is made with a collar or gas-cheek b,

15 which tits, into a corresponding recess in the barrel. Slots or notches b' are formed in this collar to receive the projections Cof the key C, Figs. 7 and 8. This key is; moreover, provided with a pin or stud C, adapted to enter 2o a hole b in the clmmber or bushing to retain the said `key in place while in use. The said key'ma'y,'iiowever', be made in any other eonvenient form. b is a stop adapted to engage with a shoulder in the breech end of the barrel to facilitate the introduction of the chamber into its place in the barrel.

' What-I claim is]- The combination` with a gun-barrel, ofy a false chamber or bushing provided with an intermittent ordivided screw and with notches and recesses for the reception of a' key, substantiall as described.

In test monwhercof I have hereunto signed iny name in t e presence ot two subscribing w tnessesu.

ROBERT HENRY ARM'I'I. Witnesses:

DAVID YOUNG, WALTER Momzrs. 

